Althea plant named ‘DS03RS’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Althea plant named ‘DS03RS’, characterized by its upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit; freely branching habit, dense and bushy plant form; dark green-colored leaves; early, uniform and freely flowering habit; long flowering period; large double-type purple-colored flowers that are not persistent; and good container and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus syriacus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DS03RS’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Althea plant,botanically known as Hibiscus syriacus, also known as Rose of Sharon,and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘DS03RS’.

The new Althea plant originated from an open-pollination in Winchester,Tenn. of an unidentified proprietary selection of Hibiscus syriacus, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection ofHibiscus syriacus as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Althea plantwas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controllednursery environment in Winchester, Tenn. in July, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Althea plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled environment in Winchester, Tenn. since June,2008 has shown that the unique features of this new Althea plant arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Althea have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DS03RS’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DS03RS’ as a new and distinct Althea plant:

-   -   1. Upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded        plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit, dense and bushy plant form.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Early, uniform and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Long flowering period.    -   6. Large double-type purple-colored flowers that are not        persistent.    -   7. Good container and garden performance.

Plants of the new Althea can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Plants of the new Althea differ from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Althea are more uniform, more freely        branching and denser than plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Althea and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have hot pink-colored flowers.    -   3. Plants of the new Althea have not been observed to produce        fruits and seeds whereas plants of the female parent selection        produce fruits and seeds.

Plants of the new Althea can be compared to plants of the Hibiscussyriacus ‘Notwood3’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,574. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Winchester, Tenn., plants of thenew Althea differed from plants of ‘Notwood3’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Althea were smaller and more compact than        plants of ‘Notwood3’.    -   2. Plants of the new Althea had double-type flowers whereas        plants of ‘Notwood3’ had single-type flowers.    -   3. Plants of the new Althea and ‘Notwood3’ differed in flower        color as plants of ‘Notwood3’ had blue-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Althea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Althea plant.

The photograph comprises a comprises a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘DS03RS’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the summer in 15-cm containersin an outdoor nursery in Park Hill, Okla. and Fort Worth, Tex. undercultural practices typical of commercial Althea production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 38° C.,night temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 24° C. and light levels rangedfrom 3,000 to 4,000 foot-candles. Plants were pinched one time and werefour years old when the photographs and the description were taken. Inthe description, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus syriacus ‘DS03RS’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unidentified proprietary selection            of Hibiscus syriacus, not patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Unknown selection of Hibiscus            syriacus, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By softwood cuttings in the summer and semi-hardwood            cuttings in the winter; plants are typically propagated            during the summer.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 14 to 18 days at soil            temperatures about 24° C. to 27° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 20 to 25 days at soil            temperatures about 24° C. to 27° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About two to            four months at soil temperatures about 24° C. to 27° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About three to            six months at soil temperatures about 16° C. to 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Perennial shrub; upright, somewhat            outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit;            moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with lateral            branches potentially develop at every node; pinching            enhances lateral branch development; dense and bushy plant            form.        -   Plant height.—About 61 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 58 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 24.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 4.5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 4.2 cm.        -   Aspect.—Upright to outwardly spreading.        -   Texture, immature.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Texture, mature.—Woody and somewhat rough.        -   Luster, immature and mature.—Matte, dull.        -   Color, immature.—Close to 195A.        -   Color, mature.—Close to 195A becoming closer to 199B with            development.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single.        -   Length.—About 9 cm.        -   Width.—About 6.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Overall outline, ovate; palmately lobed.        -   Apex.—Cuspidate or rounded acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Crenate; palmately lobed to varying depths, sinuses            divergent.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Matte, dull.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Darker green than            137A. Developing leaves, lower surface: More green than            137B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A to            137B; main veins, close to 144A and lateral veins, close to            137A to 137B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Darker            than 144A; main veins, close to 145C and lateral veins,            close to 144A.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Ruffled double-type            flowers arranged at terminal leaf axils; uniform and freely            flowering habit with about two to three flowers per            terminal; flowers face mostly outwardly.        -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of            the new Althea begin flowering about seven weeks after            pinching; long flowering period with plants flowering            continuously from spring until the autumn in Oklahoma and            Texas.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about two to three days on            the plant depending on temperature; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 10.75 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 4.7 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm.            Shape: Ovoid. Texture: Rough, short pubescence. Luster:            Matte, dull. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Petals/petaloids.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of multiple            petals/petaloids in numerous whorls that are fused at base;            petals/petaloids imbricate. Length (largest, outer): About            5.5 cm. Width (largest outer): About 5 cm. Shape: Roughly            spatulate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Crenulate;            undulate, ruffled appearance. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; veins prominent on the            lower surface. Luster, upper surface: Matte. Luster, lower            surface: Slightly shiny. Color: When opening and fully            opened, upper surface: Close to N78A to N78B; towards the            base, close to 59A; at the base, close to NN155C to NN155D;            venation, similar to lamina colors. When opening and fully            opened, lower surface: Close to N78C; towards the base,            close to 59B; at the base, close to NN155C to NN155D;            venation, similar to lamina colors.        -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a star-shaped            calyx. Length: About 2.2 cm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape:            Broadly lanceolate. Apex: Cuspidate. Base: Fused. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture,            lower surface: Rough, short pubescence. Luster, upper            surface: Somewhat glossy. Luster, lower surface: Matte,            dull. Color, upper surface: Close to 144A to 144B. Color,            lower surface: Close to 144A.        -   Bracts.—Appearance: About six to eight fused at base.            Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Acicular.            Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper            surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Rough,            short pubescence. Luster, upper and lower surfaces: Matte,            dull. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm.            Aspect: Upright to slightly outward. Strength: Strong,            flexible. Texture: Rough, short pubescence. Color: Close to            144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed, all stamens            transformed into petaloids. Pistils: Quantity per flower:            One, typically deformed. Pistil length: About 3.2 cm. Style            length: About 2.3 cm. Style color: Close to NN155C to            NN155D. Stigma diameter: About 5 mm. Stigma color: Close to            NN155C to NN155D. Ovary color: Close to NN155C to NN155D.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been            observed on plants of the new Althea as flowers are sterile.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Althea have been observed to    have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and    temperatures ranging from about 11° C. to about 40.5° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Althea have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Althea    plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Althea plant named ‘DS03RS’ asillustrated and described.